Introduction.

1. Elimelech and his family left Bethlehem to get away from the trouble of living through the severe drought that afflicted the Promised Land. The trouble brought by the drought was nothing compared to the trouble that came into Naomi's life when she lost her husband and two adult sons and returned to Bethlehem destitute. Naomi was troubled by her deep grief and the harshness of abject poverty. Listen to Jay Adams defining grief, ‘Grief may be called a life-shaking sorrow over the loss of a loved one. Grief tears life to shreds, it shakes one from top to bottom. It pulls a person loose; he comes apart at the seams. Grief is truly nothing less than a life shaking experience.'  To be bereaved three times in the short space of ten years would leave anyone absolutely devastated. Poverty is not an easy burden to carry. You can become extremely anxious not knowing when or where you will get your next meal. Living simply to survive one day at a time is very stressfull. How ought Naomi to have prayed in her time of trouble? How should we as believers pray in times of trouble?
   
   
2. Psalm 22 can help us answer this question as we find David in deep trouble and at prayer. While we are not told the specific trouble David faced when he wrote this Psalm, it is very obvious that his troubles affected his heart and mind. As you read the first 21 verses of this Psalm you notice a strange wavelike movement, David vacillates between despair and hope. His heart and mind are in turmoil as his feelings respond to the trouble he is passing through. Times of trouble are always accompanied with subtle temptations. All temptations have the same goal, to sour your relationship with the Lord so that you neither glorify nor enjoy him. How can we come to the Lord in prayer during times of trouble and temptation?

1. During times of trouble pour out your heart to the Lord.

1. Many of the prayers in the Psalms reveal that the Lord wants us to come to him in prayer even when our emotions, feelings and thoughts are in a state of confusion and perplexity. Our heavenly Father wants us to come to him as we are, even when we are an emotional mess and in a state of confusion. In prayer we are to go to Jesus our High Priest and pour out our hearts to him and seek his grace and mercy. Are we to express what we feel? David certainly expressed the feelings that plagued his heart. Psalm 22:1 is a very clear example of David expressing his deepest feelings. Listen to his words, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? David feels as if the Lord has abandoned him, he feels alone and has no sense of God's presence. I am sure that countless Old Testament and New Testament believers have uttered these words to express their feelings during times of trouble. David is the same man who in Psalm 46:1 said, ‘God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble.' Note he says God is always present to help his people; he never withdraws from them in times of trouble.  David knew that God had promised never to leave or forsake him, and yet he felt abandoned.
   
   
2. This feeling of being forsaken naturally leads on to the next matter which David brings to the Lord. David says, ‘Why are You so far from helping me?' David sees no evidence of the Lord's help, he feels as if he is not receiving strength or comfort. If David feels that God has forsaken him and not helping him, then his prayers seem pointless and futile. David expresses this by saying, ‘O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear; and in the night season, and am not silent.' David cried out to the Lord, day and night but all his prayers seemed to be a waste of time. David's situation and circumstances filled him with a real sense of urgency and he deeply desired a speedy solution to his troubles. I am sure that every believer can fully identify with David's experience, because they have felt the same as David did when they passed through a time of trouble.
   
   
3. David did not hesitate to tell the Lord how he felt about himself. Listen to verse 6a, ‘But I am a worm, and no man.' You have to feel very bad about yourself to say you feel more like a worm, than a man. When David refers to himself as a worm he sees himself as weak, helpless and very vulnerable. Commentators who suggest that David felt like a worm about to be crushed by a hobnailed boot, may be correct as that is the feeling that comes when trouble is relentless and there seems to be no way of escaping. David in verses 14-15 tells the Lord exactly how he feels physically, ‘I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it has melted within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue clings to my jaws; You have brought Me to the dust of death.' David's troubles had literally made him sick, leaving him lethargic and apathetic.
   
   
4. David also reveals how he feels about his circumstances. Listen to the words and note the images he uses to express how his circumstances make him feel, in verses 6b, 7, 12, 13 and 16: ‘I am a reproach of men, and despised by the people. All those who see me ridicule me; they shoot out the lip, they shake the head. Many bulls have surrounded me; strong bulls of Bashan have encircled me. They gape at me with their mouths, like a raging and roaring lion. For dogs have surrounded me; the congregation of the wicked has enclosed me.'  It would be hard to miss the fact that David feels trapped by his circumstances and sees no way out. David in all probability is thinking of the worst case scenario and envisages himself dying.
   
   
5. In times of trouble our faith comes under trial and doubts often flood our hearts and minds. David's faith comes under trial not only from his inner-feelings, but also from the mocking words of his enemies. Listen to the taunts of those who are against him, ‘they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, "He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!" (Psalm 22:7b-8) I am sure that Satan took those mocking words and burned them into David's heart and mind in order for him to hear them again and again until he began to wonder if what the mockers were saying was true. All the doubts you can have about being saved, belonging to the Lord, knowing his love and care for you, and that all things work for the good of those who love the Lord could be fuelled by the taunt, ‘He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue him; Let Him deliver him, since he delights in Him.'  That David's faith was under attack from within and from without would magnify his troubles tenfold.
   
   
6. David goes on to tell the Lord how he feels about his relationship with him. In the first verse of the Psalm David cries out, ‘My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me? To this David adds. ‘Our fathers trusted in You; they trusted, and You delivered them. They cried to You, and were delivered; they trusted in You, and were not ashamed (verse 4).' David feels as if the Lord is dealing with him differently to the way he dealt with his fathers who trusted and prayed and were delivered from their troubles and not put to shame. Is David thinking that God is being unfair to him? In all probability that's exactly what he thought. It is important to note that David realises his reasoning is faulty and that his theology is flawed. In verse 3 David confesses, ‘But You are holy, enthroned in the praises of Israel.'  God is holy therefore all he does is morally perfect; it is impossible for God to act contrary to his character. David is experiencing a real struggle within, while there is a part of him that wants to believe that God has forsaken him and is being inconsistent, there is another part of him that wants him to believe that his thoughts about God cannot be true as God is holy and  he does not change. David tells the Lord that he feels that his relationship with the Lord is on shaky ground.
   
   
7. The part that tells David not to believe that God has forsaken him and will not help him appeals to the great grace David received from the Lord. David's relationship with the Lord has stood firm over many years and undoubtedly through many trials. Listen to verses 9-11,  ‘But You are He who took me out of the womb; You made me trust while on my mother's breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother's womb You have been my God. Be not far from me, for trouble is near; for there is none to help.'  What prompted David to think of his long relationship with the Lord?  I think that there is a bit of irony here in that those who mocked David, actually gave him the best advice possible by telling him to ‘keep on trusting God (verse 8)' during his time of trial. The mocking words reminded David of what God meant to him in the past, and what God had done for him from infancy. David's past told him that he could and should keep on trusting God. Maybe he remembered that he had trusted God when as a shepherd boy he was attacked by a bear and a lion, and that he had trusted God to give him victory over Goliath, and he had trusted God to deliver him from the hand of Saul. David's past would have told him that God is totally trustworthy. As David thinks of his troubles he is reminded that he cannot rely on others to help him, therefore he has to cast himself on the faithfulness of the Lord and prays, Lord be not far from me. How can you pray Lord be not far from me if you feel that he has forsaken you? When trouble has you under the pump it is very easy to be confused and inconsistent. When your heart is distraught and your mind is swirling around it is very easy to contradict yourself.
   
   
8. Psalm 22 is not an isolated case of David drawing near to the Lord when turmoil rages in his heart and mind. Listen to the Psalmist Asaph's prayer in Psalm 77:1-9; 
   
   ‘I cried out to God with my voice- To God with my voice; and He gave ear to me. In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord; my hand was stretched out in the night without ceasing; my soul refused to be comforted. I remembered God, and was troubled; I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed.Selah. You hold my eyelids open; I am so troubled that I cannot speak. I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. I call to remembrance my song in the night; I meditate within my heart, and my spirit makes diligent search. Will the Lord cast off forever? And will He be favourable no more? Has His mercy ceased forever? Has His promise failed forevermore?  Has God forgotten to be gracious? Has He in anger shut up His tender mercies?'
   
   Asaph like David expresses his feeling and doubts to the Lord in his prayers. It is very important for us to note that while the Psalmists express their full feelings in their prayers they never endorse disrespectful anger or a rebellious attitude in prayer. The Psalmists never come to the Lord in prayer and arrogantly call on the Lord to explain his actions or lack of action. The prayers of the Psalmist also reveal great humility and deep devotion to the Lord; they never approach God as if they were his equal. God knows when we are behaving like a defiant, stubborn, and self-centred toddler who kicks, screams, and cries when he does not get his own way. God has no trouble discerning whether we are approaching him as a rebellious child or as a son looking for his heavenly Father's help.

2. During times of trouble positively refocus your heart and mind.

1. David's prayer in Psalm 22:1-21 is marked by absolute honesty. Psalm 139:3-4 says, ‘You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.' God knows everything about your life in every minute detail; from the day of your conception through to the day you die. Every action you perform, every thought you think, every word you will utter, every feeling that passes through your heart, everything your eyes see or ears hear is known by the Lord. You cannot hide anything from the Lord. Our prayers ought to come from the heart and be a true expression of our personalities. Being honest and open with the Lord does not mean that we exercise no restraint in our prayers. Remaining sin that is actively at work in the hearts of believers will encourage them to be excessive in expressing negative feelings, doubts, disappointments and frustrations. Never think that the devil is polite enough to excuse himself when you come before the Lord in prayer. I have no doubt that in times of trouble he will urge you to take your negative feelings, disappointments, doubts, and frustrations as facts and a true commentary on God's lack of care, love and provision. Times of trouble are also times of temptation. Burn this truth into your mind, heart, and will so that you watch and detect temptations leading you to respond sinfully. It is very important to refocus your heart and mind frequently when you are passing through times of trouble.
   
   
2. How do you refocus your mind? You refocus your mind by giving obedience to the command Paul gives in Philippians 4:4, Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! We need to give full and deliberate obedience to this command. In order to rejoice you need to recall, who your Lord is and the nature of your relationship with him. In times of trouble there are five things about your Lord and your relationship with him that are of great significance. (i) Your Lord is absolutely sovereign; he rules and reigns over all things, he is always in total control of your situation and circumstances. (ii) Your Lord is omnipotent; he is the only true and independent power, all power comes from him and is totally dependant on him. (iii) Your Lord loves you with an everlasting love. Christ Jesus bought you with his own blood, you belong to him, he counts you precious, he is your Good Shepherd and you are under his care. (iv) Your Lord has given you covenant promises to make you secure. We have these promises, ‘Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.' (James 4:8) ‘Fear not: for I am with you.' (Isaiah 43:5) ‘And lo I will be with you always, even to the end of the age.' (Matthew 28:20) Having these covenant promises ought to enable you to say what Paul said to Timothy, ‘And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for His heavenly kingdom. To Him be glory forever and ever. Amen!' (2 Timothy 4:18). Paul's confidence in his sovereign all powerful God was rock solid. (v) Your Lord is immutable; As Hebrews 13:8 says; ‘Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.' His love for you will never change. His desire to have you with him in glory will never change. The covenant promises he made will never change and never be unfulfilled. Your Lord does not change therefore you can trust him with complete assurance.
   
   
3. Sometimes Christians are sucked into desiring this world's virtues. Christians ought to desire real joy not happiness. Listen to comments made by James Montgomery Boice, ‘Joy is the Christian virtue: happiness is the virtue of the world. ...Happiness is entirely external. It is circumstantial. ...It is not so with joy. Joy issues from the nature of God, and it is intended to well up with those in whom God's Spirit dwells.'  The word ‘rejoice' is a variant from the word ‘joy' which is one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit. The world finds happiness in things and circumstances, believers find joy in the Lord. The delight of joy that eclipses the delight of happiness is found in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ and not in things or circumstances. In times of trouble your focus naturally drifts onto your circumstances and on yourself. You are inclined to spend more time and burn up more energy thinking about your circumstances than upon the Lord. When you rejoice in the Lord you set your focus on the Lord and your relationship with him.
   
   
4. In times of trouble believers ought to come to the Lord and pour out their hearts, express their feelings openly and honestly to the Lord. After pouring your heart out to the Lord give yourself to rejoicing in the Lord. When you have restored your focus onto the Lord go once more to the Lord in prayer. Do this and you will be able to ‘be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.'Philippians 4:6) It is blatantly obvious that when David wrote the first 21 verses of Psalm 22 that he was self-centred and focused on his circumstances and taken captive by his feelings. What David did is something that comes as our natural response to circumstances that threaten or disturb us. David's great grandmother Naomi did the same thing and I am sure you and I have. While we fully understand David's response we also know that what comes to us naturally is always fuelled by the remnants of sin that remain within believers. When times of trouble come; seek the Lord in prayer, rejoice in the Lord and then in deep humility pray again.

Conclusion.

In times of trouble we need to remember that believers have the great privilege of seeking shelter under the wings of the Almighty. The door that leads to the shelter has a sign on it that says, Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice. This was the spiritual exercise that Naomi needed to do when her life was full of trouble.